Celebrity Cannabis Lines: Weed Brands Of The Rich And Famous

These notable personalities are capitalizing on the emerging legal cannabis industry.

The nascent legal cannabis industry represents a stirring opportunity for a diverse range of entrepreneurs to capitalize on the drug as it comes out of prohibition. To be sure, as the list of states enacting marijuana laws grows larger, the legal pot business sees increased competition with entrants ranging from the Average Joe/Jane to A-List celebrities.

In regard to normalization efforts, famous faces advocating their respective cannabis wares can have a positive effect on the space at large. And it doesn't hurt that there's money to be made. According to industry insights firm BDS Analytics, pre-rolled joints recently saw $158 million in sales in Washington, Oregon, and Colorado––that's a 149-percent increase since 2015. So it's not hard to imagine how slapping a big name on a weedy product could drive profits even higher.

Keep scrolling to see which celebs are already cashing in on retail-ready cannabis brands.

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Willie Nelson: Willie’s ReserveThe musician and lifelong cannabis advocate launched Willie’s Reserve in late 2016. The brand, which is a reflection of Nelson’s years spent stoned, is currently available in Colorado and Nevada.

Tommy Chong: Chong’s ChoicePerhaps one of the most legendary cannabis imbibers of all time, Tommy Chong launched his brand as an effort to showcase some of the industry’s highest quality bud, with different strain offerings cultivated by artisan farmers in Colorado and California. Chong, who previously was diagnosed with colon cancer and credits infused oil treatments as curing him of the disease, told KINDLAND of his notoriety influencing sales: “There’s so much product out there, something with [my name] on it will garner more attention than something that’s just sitting there by itself.” Needless to say, Chong isn’t wrong.

Snoop Dogg: Leafs by SnoopSnoop Dogg’s signature line of chronic products is not only considered to be some of the best in the game (I mean, should we expect anything less from the Doggfather himself?). It's also representative of one of the first international licensing agreements in the weed space and is in partnership with Tweed, a subsidiary of the world’s largest producer of weed, Canopy Growth Corp.

Ghostface Killah: Wu GooThe Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah has long professed a love for good weed. And the rap artist’s aptly named Wu Goo––a line of vape cartridges containing high-end oil blends––is currently available to California cannabis consumers. Pretty Toney even makes a CBD-infused oil for anyone out there suffering from hella anxiety.

Bob Marley: Marley NaturalThe Marley Natural brand launched in 2016 after members of the late reggae star’s family came to an agreement on a partnership for a brand marketing Marley’s likeness with cannabis industry powerhouse Privateer Holdings. First met with negative reviews, Marley Natural has remained a competitor in multiple state markets and even launched a limited edition collection in collaboration with former Bob Marley art director Neville Gerrick.

Wiz Khalifa's Khalifa KushThough not technically a "brand" of weed, the rap artist lent his name to a strain of herb. "Khalifa Kush," is said to be grown specifically for Khalifa, and the bud was first made popular by San Francisco dispensary The Cookie Co. 415. Wiz also just released in 2017 a mobile game, "Wiz Khalifa's Weed Farm," which has users virtually selling weed.

Montel WilliamsThe daytime television host, medical marijuana advocate, and former head of a criminal money lending organization, launched LenitivLabs by Lenitiv Scientific, LLC in 2016. Williams was inspired to start the medical marijuana company after cannabis helped him treat multiple sclerosis.

Die AntwoordThe South African hip hop group teamed up in 2016 with Natural Cannabis on the Zef Zol line of infused products, which its makers say “is as eclectic as the rap-rave group that inspired it.”

Coming Soon

Trailer Park BoysIn anticipation of Canada’s regulated recreational market, mockumentary filmmakers and comedy troupe The Trailer Park Boys lent their namesake to a branded line of weed products. The deal––which was inked with Organigram, a popular Canadian producer––saw its first troubles in early 2017, when the aforementioned Organigram-grown bud was lab-tested and the results revealed banned pesticides.

Damian MarleyIt is only fitting that the Marley progeny would have competing pot ventures. Damian Marley, Bob’s son––who is not a part of Marley Natural, though holds a controlling interest in High Times magazine as part of the publication’s recent acquisition––is reportedly working with southern California producers Ocean Grown on a line of weed products grown in a former prison.

Anita Thompson (wife of the late Hunter S. Thompson)In 2016, Thompson told the world via Facebook that she "found a way to extract the strain DNA from Hunter's 'personal stash,' of marijuana," which is the only way she felt that marketing a brand of H.S.T weed wouldn't have the writer's name go up in smoke. “I’ve had probably 10 meetings in the last three years and I always ended up saying ‘No’ because it’s the same story every time: Somebody wants to slap Hunter’s name on their strain," said Thompson.

Of course, you should expect to see other celebrity branded lines of cannabis as more celebs get into the weed game. It'll be interesting to see which long-time cannabis proponents get into the game and who announces their own line of fancy pre-rolls or vapes just for the heck of it. Weedy goody bags at the Oscars this year anyone?